Work in progress: The University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation: A state-wide initiative to promote STEM undergraduate research

Abstract

For 20 years, nine institutions in the University of Texas System and five partnering community colleges have collaborated to promote STEM undergraduate research through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). The primary programmatic activity of the Alliance is its Summer Research Academy (SRA) which has engaged a total of 1,565 undergraduates. Of these, 242 have been supported within the last five years. The Alliance has also partnered with the US Department of Energy to support a number of faculty and student teams (FaST) to engage in research at several national laboratories. Since 2003, 37 students and four faculty members have participated in this effort. This paper will describe both the SRA and FaST. Data on program participation and success will be discussed. The Alliance is now posed to expand its effort to include research abroad. The general direction of the Alliance for the next five years will be discussed.